Maremmas do not need training to do their work as guardian.

The following general rules are therefore very useful to remember when raising a Maremma pup as a Livestock Guardian.

1. DO Allow your Maremma to be a full time livestock guardian dog.
2. DO Allow your Maremma to follow his own instincts.
3. DO NOT allow your Maremma to play with the livestock.
.............Maremmas may however play with each other.
4. DO NOT allow humans to play physical or chasing games with your Maremma.
5. DO NOT allow your Maremma to be in any territory that is not, or will not become its own territory.
6. DO NOT obedience train your Maremma. (This refers to full training on a maremma intended for full time .............guarding only.)
7. NEVER strike your Maremma with hand or weapon except as a last resort in a serious dominance conflict.
8. NEVER call your dog away from his guarding duties.
9. NEVER interfere unless to save your dog from imminent death.
10. NEVER pen or chain your Maremma as a punishment or insult.
11. DO NOT expect too much too soon.

It takes 12 - 24 months for a Maremma to become a mature guardian.

The acid test of successful livestock guarding is that the Maremma stays with the herd because
HE
wants to, and not because
YOU
want him to.

After reading all this information, you must evaluate your own personal situation. There is a difference in how you raise and socialise a maremma pup depending on your situation. Many maremmas are living on "hobby farms", that is less than say 100 acres, usually of mixed livestock. In these situations, the maremma naturally becomes more of general farm and family guardian happily, and guarding is not impeded at all.

In fact it nevers ceases to amaze me to learn of the many ways maremmas the world around have so successfully adapted to their different situations and responsibilities.

It also depends upon the degree of threat your stock are under, as to whether you can take the dog from the property. Many people keeping more than a single dog, on smaller farms find that they can take one dog to classes or the show, leaving a guardian behind. The maremma who is devoted to his stock frets when removed from them if he knows they are left vulnerable.
If however, the maremmani are to guard on large properties, they are well advised to have little socialisation with humans and houses, outside of routine chores and basic training, in order to prevent them viewing a visit to the house as a viable reason for leaving their charges unattended.
I am however very against treating the maremma as a feral dog, that needs little attention. Hoppers of dry food are indeed practical on large stations. However, the owner stills needs to tend the dog regularly, and feed fresh meals on these rounds, the dry food being only a supplement. The dogs need to be checked for health condition, wormed and vaccinated regularly, just like any other canine. You will soon develop a healthy working relationship with your dog in this situation, by reinforcing that you are the owner of the property, and care for the stock and the dogs alike, and the dog treats you as a partner.
Their devotion to the stock is a true bond, and to have the respect of a maremma that shares your farm is one of the most wonderful experiences I have personally known.
When raising my first pups here I was so careful to adhere to all the rules I was taught. It was difficult not to pick up this gorgeous pup and cuddle it, for me and my 4 children. I loved him, but held back attention except for his feeding times.

I don't believe you throw a young pup out in the paddock and off he goes!

He had a small paddock just off our back yard, with always some goats. We rotated the animals every couple of days, so they all got to go out and graze properly most days. He spent his time playing pup stuff among them, but was never permitted to play physically with them. We was able to supervise easily as he was close.
I ended up with more pups over a couple of years, and each time, direct play and attention was not given by us to pups.
As the dogs matured and were obviously totally bonded to their goats, the rules were slowly, slightly laxed, and they became more and more a part of the family. Their bond was made firmly to their livestock, and they work well. They are gentle with the children (tho Briana does like to abscond with the odd cricket ball at a crucial moment...), and treat them with great respect.
When Briana came to us unexpectedly, I suddenly had a maremma that had not been "working with livestock", and has been highly socialised. She cares not at all to go with the goats and other dogs, but guards all the lower area of the farm - the house area.
Here she has charge of chickens, a pony, cats and the family.
Between them all, they have the whole place well covered, and all dogs have their place and responsibilities.
I am loathe to sell pups into pet situations (that is not to farms), due to their great intelligence, and need for so much exercise. They are successfully kept as pets the world around, but they are a working guardian to the core of their being, and must be expected to behave as such.
Please be sure to read the article by Franca Simondetti that describes from years of wonderful experience the maremma as described by one of the worlds leading authorities on the breed.

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